Westside DOC Report - March 2014

The topics below are intended to reflect only a limited sample of the representational work that is occurring at your facility. If you have questions about specific issues, please talk to your Business Representative.

MONROE CORRECTIONAL COMPLEX

On 3/6, the first bargaining session over the DOC’s intention to consolidate Pharmacy operations was held in Olympia. Members from six facilities that are expected to be impacted were involved in the bargaining session along with the Business Representatives that cover those institutions. The meeting was a three-hour information sharing and answering of questions around how the department envisions the transition to a centralized distribution point. Not a lot of progress could be made towards proposals regarding specific impacts due to the fact that the State Legislature is still in session and the budgetary process has not been completed. The parties agreed to meet again in May when there will be a clearer picture as to funding, construction work on a remodel of the Maple Lane site that has been chosen for the consolidation location. More to come after that meeting.

The Specialized Units Staffing Policy bargaining that we have reported on previously has not yet reconvened for another bargaining session. The parties are tentatively scheduled to return to the table on Friday, March 28.

MCC Nursing staff have been awaiting more news regarding the department’s “facility review” that was done over several months last year and into this year. The Union Demanded to Bargain over the potential changes that the department may wish to make as result of their review. An LMCC was held on February 11th where Health Services (HS) presented proposals regarding changes to a number of current bid positions that would effectively eliminate facility specific posts as we have known them. The LMCC was used in this case as forum for the HS to present their proposals only, but was not intended to be a formal bargaining session. The Nursing Stewards were extremely disappointed in what the department presented as their proposals and the meeting was ended early when the Union demanded to return to the bargaining table for formal bargaining. No dates were set at the time and will be scheduled in the near future. The Union intends on holding a meeting in Monroe for the Nursing staff sometime in early April to discuss the situation and hear from the members.

Representative Manning will be out the week of March 17 to prepare for contract negotiations and for our annual Shop Steward Seminar from 3/21-3/22.

WASHINGTON CORRECTIONS CENTER

On 2/21, we had our contract demands meetings at WCC. At the meeting we discussed compensation, specialty teams, pay disparity, increased workloads, and safety issues.

On 3/1, Representative Davis visited the facility to talk to members about safety and security issues.

Representative Davis will be out the week of March 17 to prepare for contract negotiations and for our annual Shop Steward Seminar from 3/21-3/22.

MISSION CREEK CORRECTIONS CENTER FOR WOMEN

On 2/7, we had our contract demands meetings at MCCCW. At the meetings, we discussed compensation and a number of other issues.

Representative Davis will be out the week of March 17 to prepare for contract negotiations and for our annual Shop Steward Seminar from 3/21-3/22.

LARCH CORRECTIONS CENTER

On 2/18, we held our contract demands meetings at LCC. At the meeting we discussed our newly-won interest arbitration rights and compensation.

On 2/27, we conducted a vote for new shop stewards at the facility. Two new stewards were elected: Correctional Officer Mark Bean and Classification Counselor Monique Camacho.

Representative Woodrow will be out the week of March 17 to prepare for contract negotiations and for our annual Shop Steward Seminar from 3/21-3/22.

STAFFORD CREEK CORRECTIONS CENTER

On 2/19, we held our contract demands meetings at SCCC. At the meetings, we discussed compensation, specialty teams, pay disparity, increased workloads, gang-related concerns, and other safety and security issues.

On 3/4, Representative Davis met with management for an LMCC to discuss a variety of issues at the facility.

Representative Davis will be out the week of March 17 to prepare for contract negotiations and for our annual Shop Steward Seminar from 3/21-3/22.

CLALLAM BAY CORRECTIONS CENTER

On 2/13, we had our contract demands meetings at CBCC. At the meeting we discussed a number of safety and security issues. Compensation was also a major topic at the meetings.

On 2/27, Representative Davis filed a grievance over a disciplinary issue.

On 3/24, we have negotiations scheduled to discuss correctional officers working outside of class.

On 3/14, we have an LMCC scheduled to discuss a variety of issues at the facility.

On 2/3, an offender assaulted a corrections officer with a fabricated weapon. The member was treated for injuries sustained in the attack at an area hospital and released. There is on-going investigation into the incident.

Representative Davis will be out the week of March 17 to prepare for contract negotiations and for our annual Shop Steward Seminar from 3/21-3/22.

WASHINGTON CORRECTIONS CENTER FOR WOMEN

On 3/5, we held our contract demands meetings at WCCW. At the meeting we discussed compensation, pay disparity, increased workloads, and safety issues.

On 3/4, we held a general LMCC to discuss a variety of issues at the facility.

On 3/7, we held an LMCC for the health services department to discuss changes management wants to make to the schedule. The parties agreed that management would evaluate current work load to see if the issues they want to address can be accomplished without impacting member’s schedules. The parties agreed to follow up in one month to revisit the issue.

On 3/14, we have an arbitration scheduled to address female officers in non-BFOQ positions who are being pulled from their bid posts to cover BFOQ positions.

Representative Woodrow will be out the week of March 17 to prepare for contract negotiations and for our annual Shop Steward Seminar from 3/21-3/22.

OLYMPIC CORRECTIONS CENTER

On 2/11, we had our contract demands meetings at OCC. At the meeting we discussed compensation, vacation selection, pay disparity, increased workloads, and safety issues.

On 2/11, Representative Davis met with management in an LMCC to discuss vacation selection, food service, and a variety of other issues.

Representative Davis will be out the week of March 17 to prepare for contract negotiations and for our annual Shop Steward Seminar from 3/21-3/22.

CEDAR CREEK CORRECTIONS CENTER

Representative Groff was successful in resolving a disciplinary grievance by reducing a suspension from 14 to 4 days.

Representative Groff is in the process of resolving a grievance involving improper instructor pay.

We achieved a 50% return on our contract surveys, which is the highest return to date. Thank you to the incredible work of our Shop Stewards for collecting the surveys.

On 1/31, we held our contract demands meetings at CCCC. At the meeting we discussed a number of issues including interest arbitration, compensation, and safety and security issues at the facility.

The Union is investigating a safety issue involving the improper infraction of offenders.

Representative Groff will be out the week of March 17 to prepare for contract negotiations and for our annual Shop Steward Seminar from 3/21-3/22.